Achimugu, who had been declared wanted by the anti-graft agency in March over allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering, was taken into custody around 5am on Tuesday.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Nigerian businesswoman and socialite, Aisha Achimugu, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, just hours after her return from London, the United Kingdom.
Achimugu, who had been declared wanted by the anti-graft agency in March over allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering, was taken into custody around 5am on Tuesday.
SaharaReporters on Monday reported that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ordered Aisha Achimugu, the wife of the late Suleiman Achimugu, former Managing Director of the Pipeline and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), to honour the invitation of the EFCC on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, over an ongoing investigation.
Justice I.E. Ekwo had further directed that she must appear before the court on Wednesday, 30 April 2025.
The order was made in a ruling delivered on Monday, 28 April 2025, in respect of a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/626/2025, filed by Achimugu against several law enforcement agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Department of State Services (DSS), the EFCC, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
Meanwhile, her lawyer, Chief Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), confirmed the arrest to journalists, stating that the arrest contradicts a Federal High Court order issued just a day earlier.
“Aisha Achimugu, who arrived voluntarily into the country from London, was arrested by the EFCC around 5 a.m. on Tuesday,” Ojukwu said.
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Ojukwu expressed outrage at the EFCC’s actions, describing the arrest as a breach of the court’s directive and her fundamental human rights.
“In light of what transpired in court on Monday, my client returned based on the undertaking before the court to honour the EFCC’s invitation, but was arrested at the airport,” he said. “She is a prisoner of conscience.”
The senior lawyer also revealed that Achimugu had commenced a hunger strike while in EFCC custody to protest her detention.
However, a top EFCC official who spoke on condition of anonymity defended the agency’s decision to apprehend Achimugu, insisting that the arrest was lawful and necessary.
“We had earlier declared her wanted and we can’t allow her to continue to walk freely,” the EFCC source said. “Secondly, the court said she must appear before us today. We were not restricted from arresting her; what the court said was if she comes, she should not be detained. How are you sure she would appear before us today? Now that we have seen her, we have a course to ensure she appears.”
Aisha Achimugu, the wife of the late Suleiman Achimugu, is also known to be an ally of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
In its response to Achimugu’s application, EFCC’s counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, informed the court of a counter-affidavit deposed to by one of its investigators, Chris Odofin, outlining the circumstances leading to her invitation.
In the affidavit, Odofin disclosed that Achimugu is under investigation for alleged “conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering, corruption and possession of property reasonably suspected to have been acquired through unlawful means.”
According to a statement signed by Dele Oyewale, EFCC Head of Media & Publicity, on Nonday, Achimugu had initially honoured the Commission’s invitation on 12 February 2024, during which she made a written statement and was subsequently granted administrative bail through her lawyer and surety, Darlington N. Ozurumba.
However, she allegedly failed to report back as agreed, choosing instead to file a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Commission.
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Anti-Graft Agency EFCC Arrests Aisha Achimugu, Lagos Governor Sanwo-Olu's Ally At Abuja Airport – Sahara Reporters
